Brelko
MD and co-founder Kenny Padayachee has been the driving force behind the
company’s existing and future plans and will stop at nothing to ensure the
evolution of the business to suit its clients’ needs.

Founded
on the principle of providing a turnkey product range of outstanding quality,
backed by unquestionable aftersales service, the company had early on its
history recognised the technological changes taking place within the industry driven
by high labour costs, shortage of skills and an ageing workforce and adapted
its business strategy accordingly.

In
response to the changing needs of its technologically-evolving client base, Brelko
has committed considerable resources into research and development towards
refining its product and aftersales service offering with the sole purpose of
producing products that will not be reliant on a scheduled maintenance
programme, says Brelko service manager Craig Abbey. These products will require
little to no maintenance and product performance will be guaranteed for the
life of the product.

The company is also in the process of developing a range of
“self-monitoring” equipment. “This technology will allow mines to remotely
monitor the equipment eliminating the need for staff to physically perform
routine maintenance inspections,” explains Brelko technical and CADD manager Riaan Rynders.

“This
new equipment will also ensure improved efficiency and productivity as it will
be able to operate 24 hours, seven days a week. The efficiency
and productivity gains could be substantial, particularly for those companies
operating in remote areas with high labour and transport costs.”

Product
perfection, however doesn’t happen without a solid automated work place. The Brelko manufacturing facility, which
utilises the latest software and machinery that is energy efficient and
environment-friendly with little to no waste of raw materials, will continue to
strive for perfection in order to ensure “ultimate performance” from its
products.

To
this end, Brelko will continue to equip the facility with the latest equipment and
technological processes, capable of designing, manufacturing and successfully
distributing the company’s ever evolving product range.

Driving
collaboration through technology

The company has embraced digital transformation
as a means to drive collaboration between its field and office staff. This
collaboration is aimed at making it simpler for our staff members to
communicate with each other while staying focused on the task at hand. “This is
done by aligning our business processes with the technology available to us,”
explains Brelko IT supervisor Craig Leader.

“Having mobile electronic devices in the hands of
each of our service teams not only means that we are able to maintain easier
contact with our staff members, but that we are also able to enforce policies
and procedures to standardise the level of service that our customers receive,”
he adds.

Embracing Africa’s development

Africa, which is home to a significant amount and diverse range of mineral resources, has and will continue to be a tremendous resource for Brelko. The company has been selling and servicing Africa for the last 15 years and continues to see future growth potential from Africa.

With an impressive foothold in the SADC region, Brelko has over time cultivated ongoing business in Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Malawi, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Ghana and Tanzania.

While
Brelko continues to service its existing agency network, it is continually
looking to expand and grow. “As African countries develop, we will continue to expand
our agency network as new opportunities arise,” says Brelko area manager for
USA & Africa Brent Weller.

People-focused

At the heart of Brelko, and also key to the company’s manufacturing strength, is its employees.

With
10 executive managers reporting directly to Padayachee – 70% of which have been
with the company for +15 years – Brelko operates like a well-oiled machine with
each manager responsible for one of the various portfolio’s within the company.
These managers are at the core of driving the company’s objectives forward.

The combined experience of Brelko’s qualified and capable workforce, which is significant and will continue to improve, is an integral to developing and testing new products, manufacturing these products, packaging and distributing them.

Through Padayachee’s leadership, coupled with his experience, vision and drive, planning for the next ten years is already in motion and will ensure that all the necessary steps are in place to realise a bright future for Brelko and enable it to take advantage of all the opportunities it encounters.